A year after his tiny Orange County city spurred an anti-sanctuary movement that spread throughout California, former Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar is poised to become the next chief financial officer for the Department of Homeland Security.

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to approve his nomination, sending it next to the full U.S. Senate for final approval. The only committee nay vote came from Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada.

The Los Alamitos City Council listens to public comments ahead of a vote giving final approval for an ordinance that would exempt the city from complying with the California Values Act, otherwise known as the state’s sanctuary law, in Los Alamitos on Monday, April 16, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Protestors on opposite sides of the issue face-off against each with megaphones outside the Los Alamitos council chambers ahead of the expected vote by the Los Alamitos City Council giving final approval for an ordinance that would exempt the city from complying with the California Values Act, otherwise known as the state’s sanctuary law in Los Alamitos on Monday, April 16, 2018. The mayor of Los Alamitos, and leaders from several cities throughout Southern California, are meeting Wednesday, May 16, with President Donald Trump. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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More than 50 protestors who gathered in front of Los Alamitos’ city hall on April 9, 2018. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary ordinance. Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Protestors on opposite sides of the issue face-off against each other outside the Los Alamitos council chambers ahead of the expected vote by the Los Alamitos City Council giving final approval for an ordinance that would exempt them from complying with the California Values Act, otherwise known as the state’s sanctuary law in Los Alamitos on Monday, April 16, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An anti-sanctuary law protestors brings his megaphone to the protests outside the Los Alamitos council chambers ahead of the expected vote by the Los Alamitos City Council giving final approval for an ordinance that would exempt them from complying with the California Values Act, otherwise known as the state’s sanctuary law in Los Alamitos on Monday, April 16, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Pro-sanctuary law protestors lock arms in unity outside the Los Alamitos council chambers ahead of the expected vote by the Los Alamitos City Council giving final approval for an ordinance that would exempt them from complying with the California Values Act, otherwise known as the state’s sanctuary law in Los Alamitos on Monday, April 16, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Wednesday’s vote came with no discussion. At a hearing earlier this month Edgar testified that his background heading two companies in Orange County prepared him for the DHS job.

“I have spent over 30 years working for more than 40 Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies as an executive and as an adviser across many industries, including aerospace/defense, government and technology,” Edgar told the committee.

Edgar has two companies: a management consultancy, Global Conductor Inc, which has some 40 employees, and Global Conductor Construction Corporation, a 35-employee construction business that specializes in installing underground technology for the telecommunications industry in Southern California. Edgar told the committee that his experience includes work in several areas of finance, accounting, budget management and regulatory compliance.

Edgar also suggested his beliefs about immigration are nuanced.

In a statement he read to the committee last week, Edgar spoke about his wife, Betty Sarkis, a teacher at La Quinta High School in Westminster. An Iranian immigrant whose family fled to the U.S. after the Shah was overthrown in 1979, Troy Edgar said “she embodies the American dream in a manner that enables me to understand the hopes and aspirations of millions of people who come to America.”

In his testimony last week, Edgar said he “believe(s) in public service and in answering the call of our great country.” If chosen for the job, he said he would “continue (the department’s) critical mission, maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of available resources, and protect taxpayer dollars.”

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